Operation Red Nose drivers in Flin Flon will be busier than ever before this winter.
Red Nose will hit the streets 11 times over the next seven weeks, a new record for the program in Flin Flon. Rides will start Nov. 24 and continue on Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 31.
“I suspect it’s that time of year where we’re going to have close to 40 rides,” said Ted Hewitt, Red Nose chair. “It’s probably more nights than we’ve ever done, ever.”
The plans for this year’s operations are fully dependent on volunteers. Through Red Nose, businesses and charities book individual nights and volunteer to drive.
Hewitt said volunteers are still needed for some nights in late December – specifically for Dec. 23, 29 and New Year’s Eve.
“It’s always dependent on volunteers. If we don’t get the volunteers, then it becomes a failure. If you only have one or two teams and you get 40 calls, people drive home – they don’t want to wait an hour,”
said Hewitt.
Flin Flon Mayor Cal Huntley will serve as Operation Red Nose’s honourary president this year. The post is mostly ceremonial, but having the mayor on board is another tie between the City of Flin Flon and Red Nose. The two groups work closely every winter to co-ordinate driving.
“Red Nose is headquarted out of City Hall. We donate that every year. We’re very pleased to do that and it seems to be a good, central location to get the service out,” said Huntley.
Funds received from Operation Red Nose go toward organized sports and community groups.
“With the money we’ve raised, we’re probably up close to $250,000 that we’ve raised and given to children’s activities and organized sports. Operation Red Nose is a good program for the community,” said Hewitt.
